Wheels of locomotives



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

O. D. VOSMUS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND EDWD. W.

SEWELL.

IMPROVED 'METHOD OF ARRANGING GALVANO-ELECTRO HELICES FOR -MAGNETIZING THE DRIVlNG- WHEELS 0F LOCOMOTIVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 23,648, dated April 12, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORRIN D. VosMUs, of Boston, in the county ot' Su'olk and State of Massachusetts, have invented, made, and applied to use a Means for OausingAdhesion of the Wheels of Locomotive-Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and' exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, 'makingpart ot' this specification, wherein- Figure l is a side elevation ot' a locomotive in outline as with my apparatus attached, and Fig. 2 is a cross-se tion of one ot the driving-Wheels and the said apparatus applied thereto.

Similar marks of referenceindicate the same parts.

In locomotive 5 engines it has long been sought to obtain more adhesion or" the wheels to the track to enable the locomotives .to draw heavierloads, and with this object in view the weight and size of the engines have been increased and the number ot'driving-wheels multiplied. This of course requires'that additional weight be propelled,and also causes a greater amount of wear upon the track. Electricity and magnetism have also been proposed for producing adhesion of the wheels; but in all cases with which I am acq ainted the apparatus was either too complicated to be applied to use or else the method proved inciiiciint until my invention was made.

The nature of my said invention consists in applying ahelix of wire around the lower part of the wheel in such a manner that the lower part of the wheel is converted into an electromagnet, the wheel revolving within said helix, said helix being connected to an electric battery or equivalent source of an' electric current, the said helix producing magnetism in that part ofthe periphery ofthe wheel that is in contact with the track, enabling the locomotive to perform much more labor without increasing the weight of the said engine or causing so much wear or strain upon the track.

In the drawings an eight-wheel locomotive is represented, and the helices are applied to the four driving-wheels aa, although my said invention may be applied to any character of locomotive-engine and to any desired number of the drivers on the same.

The helix b is formed of suitable insulated wire or rods, and is in an oblong curved shape, so that the lower side of the wheel is free to rotate within the same. This helix b is sustainedby any suitable device from the frame of the engine, which support must not wholly intervene between the helix and the wheel,and the ends of the wire of said helix are carried to any convenient place and connected to any suitable battery or other source of an electric current. An adjusting segment or other equivalen t mechanical arrangement interi-'eues between the helix and frame of the engine, by which the position ofthe helix relative to the point ot' contact between the wheel and the track maybe varied in such manner that the maximum eieet is produced at the point of contact, which magnetic pole otherwisewould change place according to the speed with which the wheel was revolving.

The characterof the battery forms no part. or' this present invention. I would, however, remark that quantitative supply is sought.

i This invention may be applied for giving adhesion to other wheels on tracks.

I do not claim, broadly, the application of electricity or magnetism to cause adhesion of the wheels' of locomotives. Neither do I claim a helix applied to a locomotive-wheel, as this has bet'ore been done, but, itis believed, proved nearly or entirely valueless, whereas ill my in venton I have' succeeded, by the use of, a curved helix as set forth, in obtaining theV point of greatest magnet-ic effect at the point -ofcontact between the wheel and the track. Therefore,

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent., is#- 1. A curved helix applied to the wheels of a locomotive-engine in substantially the manner specitied, whereby the point of greatest magnetic eifect is the point ot' contact between the wheels and the track.

2. In combination with the helix aforesaid, adjusting the said helix in the manner and for the purposes specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature this 7th day of January, 1858.

ORRIN D. VOSMUS.

Witnesses:

PEARL MARTIN, J os. P. WILLIAMS. 

